# Russia denies plague death but quarantines 200

> Russia says lab researcher died of pneumonia, not plague, but quarantined 200 contacts.
- Title: Russia denies plague death but quarantines 200 · euronews
- Summary: Russia says lab researcher died of pneumonia, not plague, but quarantined 200 contacts. Russia claims a Siberian lab researcher died of pneumonia, not…
- Keywords: russia, plague, darya shipilova, irrkutsk, rosprotrebnadzor, quarantine, pneumonia, unknown aetiology, news, world, politics, denies
- Source: euronews — https://euronews.com/2026/10/06/russia-denies-plague-death-but-quarantines-hundreds-without-explanation
- Author: Knarik Papoyan
- Published: 2026-10-06T14:34:22+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: russia, plague, darya shipilova, irrkutsk, rosprotrebnadzor, quarantine, pneumonia, unknown aetiology, news, world, politics
## Lab researcher dies in Siberia
Darya Shipilova, 28, a researcher at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute, died last Friday night.
## Russia denies plague link
Rospotrebnadzor said biological samples found no plague microorganisms and she died of pneumonia of unknown aetiology.
## Quarantine of 197 contacts
Between 189 and 197 of Shipilova's contacts were placed under quarantine without explanation.
## Institute staff confined
More than 60 staff members of the anti-plague institute were confined inside the facility for several days.
## Hospitals restricted access
Quarantine restrictions were imposed on hospitals in Irkutsk, including a maternity ward, without explanation.
## Conflicting statements
The head of Buryatia initially said Shipilova died of plague, then amended to possibly plague.
## Key takeaway

Russia claims a Siberian lab researcher died of pneumonia, not plague, and quarantined 197 contacts without explanation.